I was asked yesterday the dreaded "tell me about yourself" question. By a group of people who pretty much know me. I knew it was coming. I had thought about what I would say-I mean I have gone to professional conferences with them, shared dinners out, countless meetings, lunch breaks, phone conversations and more. Yet this was the formal sit-down. I could answer any number of questions on their page but this one. I mean, these women (and man) know just about everything about me. They know I'm an uber-geeky band kid. I'm terrified of thunderstorms. I garden (and leave jars of jam or pickles in their breakroom). I have a stepdaughter, son and husband. I am from the opposite side of our heart-shaped state. How can you be stumped by a question about yourself? Seriously! Then it dawned on me. No one knows I blog.
"I am a writer. I have a blog"
Eyes lit up. Questions flew. I sat up a bit straighter. Never before, outside of the blogging world and a small circle of friends who also read/write blogs, have I talked out loud about my little blog. It felt so good. I am very proud of what I do here. I write for me. I started writing here because I wanted to celebrate life in Ohio, life in the middle. Then I kept writing because I wanted to share my family, good food, funny stories, and life with those who stopped by. I write because I don't have to. I write because I am part of a community of amazing women. I write because it slows me down. I write because I love to.
Answering that question "tell us about yourself" isn't ever easy-whether the group knows all about you, or hasn't ever met you. Telling the world about yourself is like standing on a shifting dune. We are ever changing and cannot possibly be boiled down to a few short words or sentences. But at least I can say I am proud of the answer I gave yesterday. I did leave out one thing though.
I hate broccoli. But I'll save that for the next time.
